Shake-up is on cards for planning meetings

New Hayling Island Lidl is given green light by planners

COUNCILLORS are set to be given a time limit when speaking about planning applications at public meetings.

Havant Borough Council is considering imposing a 10-minute time limit on deputations made by elected councillors at its planning committee meetings.

The current rules allow for councillors who do not sit on the committee to speak for an unlimited amount of time for applications such as housing developments.

Members of the general public can speak for five minutes and this is set to remain.

A council report states: ‘On average, 53 per cent of the past three meetings has been taken up by non-member deputations. This has resulted in lengthy meetings and some interested parties having to wait for a considerable time before the matter in which they have an interest is discussed.’

The report adds that 10 minutes is sufficient to enable councillors to represent their constituents.